yesterday was a small price to pay for today – as I can say only on a day like today
Perhaps the most-asked question inside of my head, year-round, is “Where Do I Belong”? Don’t get all crazy now – it’s not quite the existential question it seems on the surface! It’s really just the Big Weather Question that I struggle with on all days when the sun is not shining and the temperatures are not in the temperate zone. Is the answer California? Probably, yes. But, how do I reconcile my love for California with that for New York and, then, my all-time favorite venues in France and Italy………. Hmmmm.
Well, here I am on October 23rd and the sun is shining brightly, the barometer is high and I’m in high spirits. Yesterday, not so much. And so, the saga continues – where do I belong? Answer: somewhere where I can function effectively every day for whatever remaining time I have here, be it 30 minutes or 30 years……..
Yesterday, I read about the olive harvest about to start in Italy. I saw the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market filled up with their ever-flowing produce that elates me. I yearn for Paris in the cool and crisp air of late Autumn and even in frigid early Spring. And, truthfully, especially on days like this, I love my own amazing yard right here in suburban New Jersey, as shown above.
(photos coming – site malfunctioning)
How does one reconcile these things? I don’t really know except to say thank goodness for airplanes……..
Well, on to the point of this story. Last weekend I went to visit my two favorite pigs, Winston and Joanie, out at Melick’s in Oldwick. They were busy getting lots of attention as the weather was clear and it’s apple and pumpkin season. I did indeed buy a haul of apples but, went for the basket of plums I found on the counter from, of course California. I’ve had a Plum-Ginger and Raspberry Tart hovering in my brain for weeks now. Today’s the day.
I love the use of the word “plum” in the form of an adverb, which, according to Merriam-Webster means “a choice or desirable thing: prize. Well, here is one play on words that came together for me this morning (and other mornings) as I went to work to make the Plum-Ginger as in “prize” as we are indeed on the back end of the stone fruit season, especially as regards the “ship-to” allotment.
THE PLUM-GINGER AND RASPBERRY CRUMB TART –
one single pie crust of your choice or a nut crust, pressed into an 11″ tart pan
5 California plums, sliced
2 pints fresh raspberries
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp freshly grated ginger
3/4 cup granulated sugar
zest of one lemon
one recipe Ina Garten’s streusel with 1/3 cup minced crystalized ginger added
Preheat oven to 400F.
In a large mixing bowl, toss together the plum slices, the raspberries, sugar, ginger, lemon juice and lemon zest. Let the fruit macerate while you prepare the streusel topping and the crust.
Pour the fruit mixture into the prepared crust and arrange evenly across the bottom. Top with the crumble mixture. (see below)
Brush the crust edges (if using a pie crust) lightly with milk. Sprinkle with muscavado sugar.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the juices are bubbling. Remove from the oven. Cool completely. Dust with confectioner’s sugar. Serve with a canele of best vanilla ice cream.
Ina Garten’s Streusel Recipe – courtesy Barefoot Contessa – adapted
one stick unsalted butter melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup minced crystalized ginger
Melt butter. In a medium bowl, stir together the granulated sugar, the light brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix in the melted butter. Then add the flour. Stir with a fork and work into crumbles with your fingers. Toss the crystalized ginger over top of crumble mixture after you have arranged it on the tart.
finished photo to come – sorry, having technical difficulties with my site